10 best books of December 2014 as selected by Amazon's editors

Check out what Amazon staff chose as the best titles being released this month.

8. 'Empire of Cotton,' by Sven Beckert

"The Monied Metropolis" author Beckert looks at how cotton production affected almost every continent, including the increase in "war capitalism" in the 1500s, where workers and land were taken by force. "The story of cotton is the story of modern capitalism," says Nelson. "I don't think most of us go a day without wearing something that's cotton."

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